Meja looked at the Keeper and drew close.
“I think the gateway is still very much operational. Don’t you agree, Keeper?” she whispered.
He smiled then.
“Very good, monitor. First, we need to speak about what you think you are going to do. Come with me.”
Meja and the Keeper walked off away from the others. Kenji approached Mara and Noga.
Meja walked beside the Keeper. He is so powerful. Is he even alive? Or just an expression of the Watch?
“I would say a combination of both,” he said.
Meja raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“You were wondering if I am alive or just part of the Watch,” he said answering her expression. “I know that look all too well. I was once a human just like you. All the keepers began that way,” he said.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Over time, the energies of this place transform us; we become something other than human, something more,” he said. “But that is not the reason you are here and we are not here to discuss history. You plan on finding the warrior, Dante.”
“Yes, I need his help to face an enemy, a Samadhi,” said Meja. “A Samadhi that goes by the name of Wheel.”
The Keeper looked at Meja as if gauging how much he should tell her and then sighed. Leaning on his staff, he looked tired.
“Perhaps you and your group will be enough. Perhaps not. He has begun the ritual of the third focus,” he said.
“How?” she asked. “He is seared and can’t access his chi. Starting that ritual will kill him.”
“The process was started and was interrupted,” he answered. “In order to complete it you must find a circle of reflection and there is only one that is viable now.”
“Where?” she asked.
“The North Watch has the only remaining circle now.”
“I need the glyphs to get there, and Dante,” she answered.
The Keeper touched her forehead lightly. “You will have what you need when the time comes,” he whispered. “For now you must take the bonded one with you.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Death is coming for her,” said the Keeper. “She is no longer safe here.”
“Here? I have to say I’m surprised to see her here without Sylk,” said Meja. “I thought she would be safe here. What do you mean, death?”
“The last incursion by the Gyrevex should have dispelled any illusion of safety, here or anywhere else,” the Keeper said, looking around. “Especially for those of your kind.”
“My kind?” she asked.
“Ages ago the ability to manipulate chi and wield weapons made of your life energy and will was called magic and witchcraft,” he said. “Discovery meant death or deification, which is why your order of warriors is secret. Today, in the modern era, no one would accept what you are capable of.”
“People destroy what they do not understand,” she answered.
The Keeper nodded. “The world hates change and yet it is the only constant.”
“Some change should not be allowed,” said Meja. “Some change comes at too high a cost.”
“This is why you are here,” he replied. “You seek to stop this Samadhi. In order to do so you may have to unleash a threat just as great.”
Meja looked at the Keeper. She couldn’t believe what he was suggesting. He can’t possibly mean the Destroyer.
“Why am I taking Mara?” she said, trying to change the subject.
“Kriyas have entered the plane,” he answered. “I fear she is their target; or rather, the one she serves.”
“The Kriyas are unleashed?” she asked.
“Yes, and they approach us,” he said. “You must leave before they arrive. I will provide you with passage. Are you ready?”
“Who would do such a thing? Unleash the Reapers and the Kriyas?”
“You must look beyond the immediate threat,” said the Keeper. “Discover the motive behind the threat.”
“I can’t see past the threat,” she said. “Kriyas and Reapers unleashed on the planes is madness on a scale I have never encountered.” Can Truth be enough to deal with this? Am I?
“This new weapon you have,” he began gently clasping her arm and leading her back to the group. “Remember that you are not the weapon, but its wielder.”
Meja nodded. “I will remember.”
They joined the others and interrupted a conversation.
“Reapers have been unleashed and are in the planes,” said Kenji.
They turned to face Meja and the Keeper. Their faces were grim.
“Kenji was explaining that Gyrevex unlike any other are out there,” said Mara. “What do they want?”
“We need to go, now,” said Meja. “The sooner we can catch up with the others, the better. You’re coming with us, Mara.”
“Sylk told me he would—” began Mara.
“If she goes, then I must go as well,” said Noga. “It is a bond of word.”
“Fine, both of you, then,” said Meja as she looked at the Keeper. “Are they close? Close enough for me to sense?”
“Yes,” he said. “If you do this, they will sense you in return.”
“Can’t be helped, then,” she answered. “I want to know what is coming and how to avoid them if I have to.”
She focused her chi and centered her breathing. Her awareness expanded across the plane. She noticed it immediately. Her range was greater and more precise. Must be an effect of Truth, she thought. Within moments, she located the Kriyas and bit back a curse. They are powerful, too powerful. Seconds later she felt a tendril of energy reach out and touch her mind, gauging her. She raised her defenses and withdrew her awareness.
Now that we know who’s who, it’s time for us to leave.
“Open the portal, Keeper,” said Meja, visibly shaken. “We need to get to the Records as soon as possible.”
The Keeper nodded. “I will send you where you need to go.”
He waved his hand in the air and a portal formed before them.
“Remember my words, guardian,” he said and waved his hand again. The group disappeared.
Rin ran up to the Keeper, then halted panting. The Keeper turned and waited for him to catch his breath.
“There are two powerful entities out there and getting closer!” said Rin.
“Yes, they are Kriyas. Implement the Solus suppression protocol,” said the Keeper.
“Keeper, are you certain?” asked Rin. “The Watch will be cut off and inaccessible for its duration.”
“That is the plan,” replied the Keeper. “It won’t stop them indefinitely, but it will hold them here for a while.”
“Secure the lower Watch and evacuate everyone else, including the Rah Ven,” said the Keeper.
“The Rah Ven will not leave, Keeper,” said Rin. “They will not abandon their posts.”
“Tell them they stand on scorched earth and that the Watch is lost,” he said. “They will leave after that. Now go! We have little time.”
“What about the Kriyas?”
“I will greet them when they arrive. Under no circumstance is anyone to attack them. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Keeper,” said Rin as he ran off again to prepare the Watch.
The Keeper looked around at the activity in the Watch. This would be the last day the Watch would see this level of activity. Once the Solus protocol—a failsafe procedure to completely isolate a Watch in case of an emergency—began, the Watch would be closed off and anyone who remained would be trapped inside with no way of leaving.
TEN
SYLK TRACED A counter glyph as he entered the portal. A portal within a portal. It meant separating from Ferra and Kal, but he felt it was worth the risk. Something was off about Raja. Sharing information was one thing, but isolating Dante under the pretext of choice was something else entirely. The glyphs he traced were some of the oldest he knew. He only knew it as the blood glyph. It allowed the user to create a portal to the locati
on of their closest blood relative. That meant Dante.
The portal warped and stretched his consciousness. It was a risky maneuver. Executed incorrectly he could end up like Mariko, wandering forever in some interstitial space until he lost his mind. He kept his focus on the glyphs and, as he entered, the glyphs found Dante. Dante is in there somewhere but Raja would not let me help. Could the Records be corrupted? Could someone be manipulating or controlling Raja? I didn’t think that was possible until our conversation.
The portal opened and Sylk entered the dark reflection room. He noticed the crater where there used to be a circle. He let his awareness expand and found Dante. He had started the ritual; he could sense that much. The change in his chi was apparent. He was fighting. That chi signature. It can’t be. On the other side of the crater, he sensed Dante stop an attack by—the realization hit him suddenly— the Harbinger. He leaped over the crater and manifested his sword, its black blade gleaming.
**********
Shadowstrike moved of its own accord with me as an extension. That’s what it felt like in my hands.
Let go of the fear. It will only slow you down. Acknowledge it and then let it go, it said in my mind.
Facing an immortal who was bent on killing you kicks that fear into overdrive. I had no trouble acknowledging the fear. The letting go part escaped me. Rael slashed at my legs and unleashed a wave of electricity. Shadowstrike absorbed the wave like a lightning rod as I dodged the slash. The surprise must have shown on my face since Rael laughed as I backed away.
“You clueless fool,” he said. “You have no idea what is happening, do you?” he said as he closed the distance. “Did it tell you the cost?”
“My life,” I said.
“Wrong, warrior,” he answered shaking his head. “It will be your immortal life. That sword will keep you alive indefinitely once the ritual is complete.”
He lunged with one sword while bringing the other down in an overhead slash. I parried the lunge and sidestepped the slash. My leg shot out and I kicked his knee. The impact made a sick crunch as he fell to the ground, laughing. I backed up, realizing he was insane.
He grabbed his leg, now bent at an unnatural angle. Another sick crunch filled the space as he pulled the knee back in place. Tears filled his eyes as he screamed. His leg returned to normal and he stood up. He tested the knee and took a defensive stance, still chuckling softly.
“You don’t want to end up like this, warrior,” he said quietly. “Everyone you know will die. Life will have no meaning. You will end up alone and touched.” He touched the side of his head as he smiled at me.
“Your master wants to destroy everything, me included,” I said.
“You have been fed lies, warrior,” he said. “Have you asked yourself, why you? Why haven’t any of the other warriors— clearly more powerful than you—why haven’t they tried this?”
I remained silent. I keep asking myself that same question.
“Let me solve that mystery for you,” he said. “You’re being played. To them you are just a weapon, a pawn to be controlled. A powerful pawn, but still expendable. Once the ritual is complete, there is no going back. Don’t let them take your life from you. Don’t end up like me.”
A blast of energy hit Rael in the chest, knocking him back.
“Enough, Harbinger,” said Sylk.
“Enough of what, Karashihan, the truth?” answered Rael as he began to fade. He looked down in mild amusement and saw himself become transparent.
“You think you can plane-shift me that easily, Sylk?” said Rael. “I’m hurt. Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“With extreme prejudice, yes, I am,” said Sylk.
Rael began tracing glyphs in the air as he looked at me.
“Nothing quite like family to betray you in the most painful way,” said Rael. “Ask him why he didn’t take the third focus.”
With a blast of electricity, he disappeared, leaving scorch marks on the ground.
Sylk looked at the scorch marks and rubbed his chin. “That will only slow him down for a few minutes,” he said. “Long enough to get away from here.”
I turned to Sylk. The fatigue hit me suddenly and I sat on the ground. Shadowstrike disappeared. Is Rael right? Are they turning me into another Harbinger? Some half-crazy immortal they can control?
“Why didn’t you?” I said.
“Warrior…Dante, it was not my place—” began Sylk.
“Bullshit, Sylk,” I said, pointing at him. “You are from the same lineage as Lucius. Why didn’t you go for the third focus? Or Maelstrom, for that matter?”
“Maelstrom was a mistake,” he said. “You were never supposed to manifest that weapon.”
“And yet I did and it almost killed me, no thanks to you,” I said, my chest growing tight. I could feel the anger rising in me. “Now you want me to carry another weapon that’s going to turn me into what—another Harbinger? Some lunatic who can’t die?”
“Don’t you see, Dante, this is what he wanted,” said Sylk. “For you to doubt. Don’t let him win.”
“Is it true?” I asked. “The things he said, are they true? Once I complete the ritual, what happens to me?”
I stood up and manifested Shadowstrike. It happened effortlessly this time. I looked at my hand, at the sword and what it symbolized—the end of my life, as I knew it.
“Dante—”
“Goddammit, Sylk, just tell me!” I yelled.
“It’s not that simple.”
“Make it simple,” I said through gritted teeth. “Is it reversible?”
“No, it’s not,” he said. “Another searing will kill you. I still don’t know how you survived the first one.”
I wasn’t going to tell him that Owl had saved me from Lucius and had probably sacrificed the last of his being in that act.
“If I don’t complete the ritual?”
“You will die,” he answered. “That sliver will destroy you over time with every use if the ritual is not finished.”
“How long before that happens?” I said.
“I don’t know. No one does, only that it does happen.”
“You bastard,” I said. “You knew and you let me do it anyway.”
“Yes, Dante,” he said. “My intention was to let you bond to the third focus in the hopes of preventing the destruction of everything else. Initially, I was going to bond to the third focus myself, but not everything goes according to plan. We all have sacrificed. For some of us there is still more to give. Given the circumstances, our lives are inconsequential.”
He extended his right arm and the silver lines glowed faintly.
“Am I going to turn into him?” I asked. “Will I become another psycho immortal?”
“That depends on you,” he said. “If I see you turning into a crazed sword bearer, I will do my best to end you.”
“Well, that’s comforting,” I said.
“Shadowstrike is not Maelstrom, even though they were forged by the same hand,” he continued. “Maelstrom is corrupted, but even you managed to keep it from killing indiscriminately.”
“It wasn’t easy,” I said.
“Exactly,” he answered. “It wasn’t easy for it to turn you to kill. The few times you gave it free rein, your life or the lives of others were in danger.”
“It was evil,” I said. “All it wanted was death. Starting with mine.”
“Bonding with Shadowstrike will not be as easy as Maelstrom,” he said. “The ritual is in three parts. Each one is dangerous.”
“Why is it so difficult?” I asked. “With Maelstrom it was only a matter of letting it have control.”
“Maelstrom is a weapon of complete destruction,” said Sylk. “It only requires a vessel to fulfill this role, usually consuming the vessel in the process.”
“And Shadowstrike?” I asked.
“Is different,” he replied. “It will give you the ability to time-skip and wave-dance once its abilities are fully realized. This is no small thi
ng. I have heard it has other properties as well.”
“You don’t know?” I asked, incredulous.
“I only know what has been recorded,” he said. “The fact that you have begun the ritual is amazing enough. I understand that you didn’t want any of this, Dante. Many times, we don’t seek out greatness or adversity. Many times it is thrust upon us.”
“Dumped on is more like it,” I said bitterly. “Before all of this, my life was my own. I trained and managed it. My life was simple and quiet. Hell, I had a life.”
“You still do,” he said. “It just serves a greater purpose now.”
“I didn’t have to worry about anyone but myself; now, everyone depends on me. I’m not some savior, Sylk. Half the time I don’t know what I’m doing!” I said, the anger and frustration getting the best of me. “I don’t know what Sensei Wei was thinking.”
“It is obvious he saw something in you beyond the average,” he answered. “He may have even known your ancestry. Being the bearer of the Fangs, the second focus, he probably knew more than most about our family history.”
“It feels like I don’t have a choice,” I said.
“There is always choice, Dante. Even when it appears like none exists. You can choose to walk away and let Shadowstrike end you. If not the weapon, Lucius will eventually find you and attempt another searing; this will kill you.”
“Sounds great,” I said. “Those sound like excellent choices.”
“I’m not finished,” he said. “You can finish the ritual, which can also kill you. However, if you succeed, you will be able to stand against those that threaten the very fabric of reality. In the end you may still die, but you will do it on your terms.”
I gave it some thought. In the end, I chose life because I’m stubborn that way and I had become used to breathing. If I was going to die, it was going to happen fighting for every breath. No one and nothing was going to steal it from me.
“Let’s go finish this ritual,” I said. “Shadowstrike said something about the North Watch being the only one with a working circle now.”
“Are you certain it said the North Watch?” he said warily. “It wasn’t Raja who mentioned the North Watch? Think carefully, try to remember.”
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 58
